Allardyce: I’ll play a weaker side in Cyprus

SAM ALLARDYCE has made clear his intention to play a skeleton team in Cyprus as he is not prepared to jeopardise Everton’s hopes in the Merseyside derby. Everton will play their final Europa League match against Apollon Limassol on Thursday, with their campaign in Group E having proven to be a total calamity. Their record of one point from a possible 15 is the worst performance by an English team in the competition but a victory in the final fixture would allow them to leapfrog Limassol and least prevent the ignominy of finishing bottom. However, Allardyce (right) has no intention of playing any of his big performers and it is likely many will be allowed to remain on Merseyside to prepare for Sunday’s trip to Anfield. Allardyce has taken over a squad that has been decimated by nine injuries and he will not run the risk of adding to that figure by overloading certain members of his group. It is likely that those who have been on the periphery, such as summer signings Davy Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez, who have failed to find form — and youngsters such as Morgan Feeney and Beni Baningime will play in Cyprus. Allardyce said: ‘It is a dead rubber. I would suggest to the fans that if you are going to spend some money to go and watch them be mindful that I am going to send a team that is not going to be risking too many players who are going to be involved for Liverpool. It would be foolish of me to consider getting a player injured in that game and not have him available.’